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What A Person Can Follow To Have A Good Gifting Option For The Loved Ones?

Christmas is a time when families and friends come together. It’s also the season of giving, which means that there’s plenty of money going around to buy presents for family members.

One thing you may not have considered is how to budget for your Christmas gift list this year. Here are some tips on how to do it in an affordable way.

1. Plan ahead

If you want to make sure you don’t spend more than you can afford, you need to decide how much you can spend and then stick with it. You should plan to set aside at least half of your income for holiday gifts (if not all of it). If you’re working remotely during the holidays, you might be able to save even more.

When you’re making your budget, you should keep in mind that things like rent, insurance, utilities, and food will continue to cost money throughout the year. So if you’re spending $500 per month on those items, you shouldn’t expect to cut them out entirely.

In other words, don’t try to skimp on any part of your expenses just because you want to give a lot of people nice gifts.

You also need to figure out what your priorities are. Do you really want to get everyone something expensive? Or would you rather help your loved ones feel less stressed by buying them something simple and thoughtful?

Once you know your priorities, you can then decide whether you want to buy gifts for everyone or focus on a smaller group of people who you care about more. For example, you could choose to give fewer gifts but put more effort into getting them something they really enjoy—or you could give everyone something expensive, regardless of its quality.

2. Don’t spend too much on one person

It’s tempting to splurge on someone you love, especially with the holidays approaching. But that doesn’t mean you need to go overboard. Instead, you should consider what type of gift you want to buy and the price range it falls under. Then, determine how much you think he or she would appreciate it. And finally, figure out how much you can afford to spend.

For example, if you’d prefer to give your significant other a small gift, such as flowers or a card, you can easily spend less than $50. But if you want to give your best friend a sweater, you might want to spend more.

Also, before you start shopping for gifts online, remember that most people will probably already have what they need. So before you go looking for something specific, take a look at their wish list. If you see something you think they’ll like, make note of it so you can check it off your list later.

3. Look for sales

The last thing you need to do is shop for gifts. If you’re worried about spending too much money, you should start early and look for sales instead. This allows you to find good deals without breaking the bank, and you won’t be stuck trying to find the right gift among hundreds of options.

To learn more about finding sales, you can read our article on how to find online deals. The key is to look for sales where products are discounted or priced lower than usual. This is often done by retailers in order to boost sales and generate more revenue.

Of course, you shouldn’t rely on sales alone. To ensure you get the best deal possible, you need to know what you want to purchase and when you’re likely to find it. In addition, it helps to research the item you’re interested in to find out where it comes from and what problems it has.

After doing all this work, you should be able to pick up a great deal. And if you find a better deal somewhere else, you can always use coupons to bring down the price further.

4. Get creative

Another thing to keep in mind as you prepare for the holidays is that you don’t necessarily need to buy the same gifts every year. That’s why it’s important to think outside the box and consider unique ideas instead.

Don’t worry about having to buy multiple items either; many stores offer the option to buy multiple items as a bundle. This is a great idea if you’re planning to have lots of guests over for the holidays. If you’re buying for only one individual, it’s fine to split up purchases into separate orders.

And if you can’t find anything you like, you can always ask a store associate or customer service representative for suggestions. They can usually point you towards a product that they think would make a good fit for the person you’re buying for.

5. Make a wish list

Even though you’ve determined how much you can spend on each individual gift, you still need to make a wish list of everything you’re considering. If you put all of your gifts on paper, you can refer back to it when you’re picking out the perfect present for each person.

Before you start making your wish list, think about what you’d like to receive. Are you thinking about practical items, such as books or games? Or are you looking for something more exciting, such as a night out with friends?

Keep in mind that different types of gifts require different types of budgets. If you’re planning on buying a bunch of electronics, you’ll need to have a tight budget, whereas if you’re looking for a big-ticket item, you can afford to spend a little more.

You should also think about what you want to do with your gifts. Will you be giving them straight to the recipient or putting them in a basket and passing them around? Once you’ve thought about these questions, you can create your wish list accordingly.

Future Insurance Industry Kenya

The Insurance Industry in Kenya accounts for 2-3% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

The insurance industry in terms of Gross Written Premium (GWP) has grown by 15% on average over the period 2013-2016 to KES 195 billion.

The industry has witnessed a heightened regulatory risk over the last three years with the introduction of market consistent/realistic valuation basis for liabilities and risk based capital.

Fintech is the new buzz word in the financial industry. This is simply leveraging on technology to offer financial services and products.

The numbers

The insurance industry accounts for 2-3% of the Gross Domestic Product for the country. This is higher than all the other Eastern and Central African countries that are below 2%. South Africa is in a league of its own at 14%, higher than most European countries.

The insurance industry in terms of Gross Written Premium (GWP) has grown by 15% on average over the period 2013-2016 to KES 195 billion. The life insurance sector has grown by 19% over the same period while the General insurance sector has grown by 14%. 2017 has been a tough year for the industry and we expect a lower growth. The main challenges include; the prolonged electioneering period which is still uncertain, high inflation rates driven by food inflation which has squeezed families to concentrate on the basic needs, drought which was experienced over the period 2016-2017, poor business prospects characterized by lay-offs and increasingly bad business practice driven by under-cutting.

Regulatory changes

The industry has witnessed a heightened regulatory risk over the last three years with the introduction of market consistent/realistic valuation basis for liabilities and risk based capital. The market consistent basis for valuing insurance liabilities is known as Gross Premium Valuation (GPV). This is an actuarial lingo which means the premium used in the discounted cash flow (DCF) model is the full premium charged to a client. The gross premium takes account of the benefit promised, business acquisition costs including commissions, expenses for managing the business and a profit margin. This is in contrast with the previous method; the Net Premium Valuation (NPV), where the premium used in the cash flow model only accounted for that portion that cover the benefit promised and ignored the acquisition costs and expenses for managing the business. The GPV uses the risk-free rate to discount the cash flows while the NPV the discount rate was prescribed at 4% for long term conventional endowments and 6.5% for retirement income products such as annuities. The GPV basis allows for the internal company experience when projecting cash flows in the DCF model. These internal experiences include expenses, persistency/lapse rates, mortality (death rates) and longevity (survival rates) as opposed to the NPV basis where these were prescribed in regulation.

Risk based capital (RBC) is a scientific method of determining capital requirement in relation to the risks being carried by a financial institution. The main risks covered are insurance risk, market risk, credit risks and operational risk. The capital held (capital charge) for each of these components is measured as a percentage of the exposure in each. The charge is determined statistically to ensure that the company’s balance sheet can withstand risk shock with some level of confidence. This is a step forward for the industry to best practice. The current model as structured for the industry has some challenges which are being addresses. The implementation will take a while before it stabilizes. The regulator has been at the forefront of improving actuarial skills in the industry which is still below par, by offering scholarship to bright students. There is a strong actuarial professional society which the regulator can work with to improve the regulations and instill some market discipline.

Market dynamic

The market is characterized by a product range that has not changed over the years. This points to a lack of innovation and shallow product development functions. Insurance firms need to be more innovative and build expertise in product development in order to meet the market needs.

The selling structure through tied agents, independent agents and brokers has served the industry for a long while. Some companies have been able to harness the power of a strong distribution networks in life insurance essentially locking out new entrants. However, the selling agents and brokers have become too powerful both to the insurers and regulator.

They have squeezed insurers to offer high discounts on premium on top of asking for additional commissions (“overrides/management expense”) above the legally acceptable. The only thing on competition is price and hence product design has suffered. This has meant that policyholders receive less benefit and insurers are making losses in some of the products on offer such as medical and motor. To make the matter worse, agents are now holding on to premium leaving insurers which a huge debtors. Besides loosing investment income on the unremitted premiums, insurers are now forced to hold capital thereby increasing the cost of doing business.

Technology & Youth

Fintech is the new buzz word in the financial industry. This is simply leveraging on technology to offer financial services and products. Fintech is going to be a game changer in the coming years. Products will be sold digitally and all customer interactions will also be digital. This may affect some jobs such selling/agency, policy administration, claims, etc, will become obsolete and a nightmare on employment in future. The youth who make up over 85% of the population in Africa are digitally savvy and hence present a big opportunity. Insurers who will be able to tap into this market need to embrace technology as a child embraces her mother. Insurers who will reap huge benefits will be the ones who will through away conventional know-how for new untested out-of-the box way of doing things. This could mean hiring misfits with contrarian mindsets to run innovation and product development.

Management styles

Most insurance firms are led by titans of industry who have helped shape what the industry is now. They have done a commendable job at putting the industry at a level of envy by our

Business Primers All You Need To Know About Corporate Culture

The fact is that in order for a business to be successful, the corporate culture is a necessity. By definition, corporate culture is a collection of principles, values, and rules of a corporation. Together, all of these factors create the company’s identity, that is, determine the work methods and business etiquette.

How efficient a team is, is not determined only by the individual qualities of its members, but also the team chemistry. Organizing a team is perhaps the most important factor in running a successful business. This is where the corporate culture plays a major role. It shapes the way each employee thinks and acts, making all of them function great as a team.

Different Corporate Culture Types

The so-called macho corporate culture is focused more on individual qualities of the employees. It values bravery and openness to risk-taking. This type of corporate culture is often seen in businesses like stock market and advertising. Results produced by this business philosophy are seen relatively quickly.

Another type is the investment culture, which is focused on long-term profits, rather than instant results. In fact, as its name suggests the investment corporate culture is focused on big investments, so it is almost exclusively used by large corporations, such as oil companies for example.

Both aforementioned corporate culture styles are celebrating risk. The core principle of these philosophies is that “who dares, wins”. However, there is a sort of risk-free corporate culture as well. This type is called the method culture and it values continuity. This corporate culture usually doesn’t produce a large profit, but guarantees stability.

How to Acquire Corporate Culture Values?

Corporate culture is not something that can be acquired instantly. In fact, it takes time for a company to implement it and for the team to get used to it. Hiring the right people is among the key factors for a good corporate culture. On top of that, it is necessary for the employee to have good role models when it comes to corporate culture. If the managers are doing good work in this field, a good chance is the employees will follow.

Start Your Own Online Business Directory

It’s simple to start your online business directory. Paid web directory applications allow one create a successful online company listing and to download the application. Get your company directory website online now with this particular theme. Business Listing Plug-In is a free WordPress plugin to make a company listing.

Paid web directory applications enable the software to be downloaded by someone and make an effective business directory. Business Directory Applications is becoming a popular way of running an online company directory and preparing. Online business directories are a wildly popular place to advertise a small business.

But you’re so correct about building the web directory as a business. Jenni lays out the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing a directory vs. constructing yourself quite pretty much. It’s a genuine home business while offering rather a simple way to make money working at home.

The details provided in a company directory changes from business-to-business. It lets you readily create a company or private directory. So take a peek at these alternatives for choosing the right web directory applications of listing website theme.

Research more attributes as needed and produce a practical directory on your business website. Business Directory Software will even allow the company to submit their listing by uploading their information and make their online payment pay using a safe payment method that has been integrated with the business directory applications. What I wish to attain will be to develop an enterprise directory utilizing types.

Business To Business-Marketing – provides detailed information on Business-To-Business Advertising, Business-To-Business Email Marketing, Business-To-Business Business To Business Internet Advertising and more, Advertising Strategies. One good approach to assist you in building-up your business online is getting listed in enterprise directories. I will produce a niche business directory with classes for key US towns/regions by using this template.

This add-on will even allow you to produce a company listing and an address guide. In the event, you would like to utilize a directory plugin to produce a staff or church web directory the Connections Company Listing plugin is the right choice for you personally. Directory Income – there are numerous methods by which you can make income from your cellular telephone directory.

Let me say this again in a little way that is different – a great company requires a website, but the site will not create the business. It’s possible for you to publish the online business listing as a standalone site, or you can incorporate the web directory within an existing web site. Make an effort to get yourself enrolled on the BBB site, as it will lend credibility to your own business.

This post demonstrates to you how one can produce a robust Business Directory and enable you to generate income on your website. Lots of people believe that when your business is in a leading company directory you understand your business and are reputable. Notes: Here’s our step by step guide to distributing your local company to the Better Business Bureau Their ratings procedure is described here though non-accredited companies don’t receive a link back to their website, listing your business with all the BBB remains a citation that is precious.

Pros: You get much more control over the look and feel of your directory, and your complete website serves as a web directory, instead of simply one page. The Yahoo Business Directory is in growing on the web, one title that can help your business. An extremely easy and quick plugin to use, the Straightforward Web Directory plugin gives you the ability to create an address guide, local directory or any different form of the internet directory.

DMOZ is a vital web directory also referred to as The Open Directory Project (ODP), categorized into various kinds packed with websites. Nonetheless, we regret to advise you that there is no Magic Jack for cell phones after all. You can publish the online company directory as a stand-alone site, or you can incorporate the web directory within an existing web site.

Its greatest use is to develop alternative or company directory website although Directory theme may be used as dedicated eStore. GeoCraft Topic allows you to get your City Business Web Directory web site online within minutes. Created using input from actual directory owners and years of experience, directory motif is a perfect platform for those who wish to not only produce but also operate successfully, money making internet business out of a directory website.

How A Credit Card Transaction Works

If you are planning to accept credit cards as part of your business it is beneficial to understand how the process works and what parties are involved.

The Parties Involved

The merchant account provider (acquiring bank) is the bank that the merchant uses to setup up credit card processing. The merchant account provider connects the merchant to the customer via the credit card network.

The card issuing bank is the bank that the customer uses to be able to buy products or services via a credit card.

The Credit Card Transaction Process

When customers purchase a good or service from a merchant the following steps occurs.

Credit Card Information Input

There are basically two ways that credit information is input. It is either swiped or keyed in. If the purchase begins at a “brick and mortar” type of business (barber or grocery store) then the card is usually swiped using a point of sale (POS) machine. This machine reads the information off the magnetic strip on the back of the card.

If the transaction is done over the internet or by mail order or over the telephone then the information cannot be swiped and must be keyed in. Since a keyed in transaction has a greater potential for fraud additional information is generally required to process the transaction like the 3 or 4 digit card security number, the card holders billing address and phone number. In the event of an internet transaction the keyed in information travels through a payment gateway which works similarly to a POS.

Authorization

Once the card information is input it goes to the merchant account provider. The merchant account provider communicates with the costumer’s credit card issuing bank where it determines whether the card holder has enough credit for the purchase. The customer’s issuing bank then issues a hold on the card against that amount and sends an authorization code to merchant bank and to the merchant.

 

Batch Processing (Transfer the money)

The various transactions a merchant does during the day are stored. Generally, at the end of the day the transactions are processed in one batch, where in the card issuing bank transfers the money to the merchant account. Before the card issuing bank does so, it subtracts a transaction fee (processing fee) which is a percentage of the purchase (generally around 2%). Once the merchant account bank receives the money it subtracts a flat processing fee.

For example if a customer buys a $100 product and the interchange fee is 2% and the processing fee is $0.50 then a $100 purchase loses $2 at the customers card issuing bank and $0.50 at the merchant account provider, meaning the merchant actually gets paid $97.50 on the transaction.

Computer Maintenance Tips How To Keep Your Computer Working Like New

A good computer has a good working life, so the need for computer maintenance and repair is just as important as the hardware. With each computer, there is a full load of software running in the background, which requires regular maintenance from an expert technician.

Computers are nothing without the software that they run. Without it, the computer would simply be a glorified calculator. And, no matter how simple or complicated the software can be, it will need to be upgraded on a regular basis.

There are a few things that you can do to help reduce the amount of time you spend on your computer doing complete computer maintenance. But, you can’t completely escape the need for a tune-up on your PC. It is essential that you know how to maintain it properly so that your computer can perform at its best.

Your security system is the first thing that needs to be taken care of when it comes to PC maintenance. If you have a home server, then it is recommended that you use it to secure your entire network. You need to keep it up-to-date with the latest security patches and software.

Firewall is another component that you should be checking on a regular basis. This is critical in keeping out hackers from stealing information from your computers. Security holes on the firewall can allow them to enter into your network without your knowledge.

You also need to look at the performance of your CPU regularly. You can do this by downloading a program that tells you what your CPU is doing. The more junk files that are left on your computer, the slower it will run.

It is important that you clean your computer. Start by uninstalling any programs that you don’t use anymore. Then, gothrough the software that you no longer use on your computer and delete them.

Cleaning out your computer’s registry is also important. This part of your computer is where all the data and settings are stored. It will slow down your PC if it isn’t clean.

These are some of the things that need to be done in computer maintenance. Many people overlook the fact that they need to keep their system up-to-date with the latest patches and software. You may also need to check out the possibility of uninstalling spyware and viruses.

There are several things that need to be done to keep your computer performing at its best. In addition to updating your computer with the latest patches and updates, you need to clean up unwanted files and programs that you no longer use. And, you also need to update your firewall to keep out the hackers.

One of the reasons why a lot of people have a bad reputation of not being able to keep their computer up-to-date is because they neglect maintenance. They don’t actually understand how to keep their system healthy. That is why you need to take an internet connection in order to get in touch with the experts who can help you keep your computer performing at its best.

Computer maintenance is something that all computer users should have an understanding of. Just like a car, a computer is not going to last forever. It is important that you take care of it in order to ensure that it lasts as long as it is supposed to.

Dont Just Survive Thrive

There are countless ways to make sure your business not only survives but thrives for the long term. In these challenging economic times, competing effectively isn’t an option for a business to survive. Why not thrive instead of just surviving since your company is working hard anyway? Why not start at the top of the list, where the best bang for the buck can be found in ensuring business success?

Does your company have a Board of Advisors with members that are willing to challenge your assumptions and beliefs while bringing real value and new ideas to your business? A Board of Advisors made up of seasoned professional business people can be one of your organizations’ most valuable resources. It’s all too easy for a business owner or CEO to get in a rut and not see the forest for the trees while leading the business. The experienced advisors will bring value to the business and challenge conventional wisdom while keeping the best interests of the company in mind.

No matter what the size of the business, a competent and diverse board of experienced business people will help ensure success and better enable a company to compete while pleasing its’ customers and generating good financial results. A Board of Advisors should be carefully chosen to include diverse backgrounds with people that will work together while challenging existing assumptions. Doing things the way everyone else does things will get you where everyone else gets. A superior competitor charts its’ own path. The wise leader and business owner knows that access to and the use of qualified help is one of the most powerful ways to compete successfully.

How does a company create an effective board? I can help you and your company by providing objective unbiased input by evaluating and advising when such a critical decision involving a board or board members is appropriate.

Human Behaviour And Culture In A Modern Organization

Organizations are facing challenges every new day. Some of these challenges include bureaucracy, technological and regulatory changes. All this can be summarized into culture issues .

issues Understanding organizational culture and when to anticipate changes is important to the survival of most organizations.

An organization that is able to understand the needs of all these cultures and come up with a congruent universal culture is going to reap huge benefits in terms of growth, profitability and long-term existence.

Organizations are facing challenges every new day. Some of these challenges include bureaucracy, technological and regulatory changes. All this can be summarized into culture issues. Culture is simply social behavior and norms within a given society. The old guard is used to doing things in a certain way. Technological advances mean that this way of doing things is obsolete and the old guard finds this difficult to accept. The old guard regards loyalty while the generation Y and X want to achieve something and move on. This is difficult for the old guard. All these point to a cultural issue that has been built up for a while. Therefore understanding organizational culture and when to anticipate changes is more important to the survival of most organizations.

Understanding people and social behaviour and how this influences culture is going to be a critical aspect running a 21st century organization. The 21st century organization is characterized by various cultures clashing together i.e. the baby boomers, generations X, Y & Z, tech culture, crypto currencies, etc. All these cultures perceive life and work very differently. An organization that is able to understand the needs of all these cultures and come up with a congruent universal culture is going to reap huge benefits in terms of growth, profitability and long-term existence.

Understanding human behaviour and how this impact the 21st century organizations is critical in helping organizations navigate the complex issue of culture. This will ensure the continued existence of organizations and come up with solutions to merge all these cultures. This will enable organizations to bring out the best in its people in order to achieve success.

 

It is hard to understand the different cultures without understanding the power of communication. It’s by improving the communications that we become better listeners and hence better understand our difference.

Assessing training needs, learning difficulties and areas of personal development for people will be a big part in harnessing the power of the different generations. This will enable organizations plan for training and coaching programs for their employees. The ability to solve cultural issues within organizations by understanding human behaviour and how this applies to the work environment is going to be a key item in the 21st century era.

The writer is a commentator on business and economic issues.

What To Know About General Contractors

A business owner faces all types of catastrophes that can happen at a moments notice. Many are not prepared nor do they have the budget to sustain the damage. Plumbing in a big building brings huge headaches. It’s a fight to get the problem resolved before it starts taking away customers and the bottom line revenue. You will search for a contractor to save the day and hopefully restore everything back to normal. Here are some things to know about general contractors.

Time

You know you need a general contractor and you also know you don’t want someone who is going to take days to figure out the problem with the plumbing. Your business is suffering enough as the toilets are no longer running and the sinks in the break room have completely stopped. Now employees are upset and frustrated. It’s hard for them to do their jobs with the plumbing on the fritz. You want the general contractor who can come in an access the situation quickly and get things moving for repair. A business can bleed money as customers or even employees go a long time without a decent bathroom to use. The general contractor who knows how to make a plan fast is the one to hire.

Licenses

Don’t be too quick to hire anyone that can’t give you a license to view or doesn’t have one at all. This can turn your need for a general contractor into a nightmare you just didn’t see coming. Most plumbing in a business is crucial and when looking for a general contractor to get it back on track can be hard. Check the contractor’s license with the city or state you are in. This will give you information on whether the license is up to date or has expired years ago. Take the appropriate steps to let the contractor go if you find that they have no license at all. You can find a commercial plumbing shakopee mn pro.

Reputation

As a business in the community there are many other companies you might have chatted with and know. Lean on these people to find out the reputation of a contractor you are considering to hire. They can give you a plethora of suggestions and what to know about the contractor’s reputation among the local businesses. You might be lead to the person who is considered the individual everyone calls and is in demand. This can reduce your search a lot as you will be in good hands. Reputation is everything and most contractor’s know they need to keep theirs intact. Only hire those who have maintained a great reputation throughout their career.

These are things to know about general contractors. Make sure you pick the one who doesn’t take up all of your time when fixing a plumbing issue that is running away all customers. Make sure they have the appropriate license that shows they are capable for you kind of work. Finally, choose the best contractor in your area that has a great reputation and everyone can’t stop talking about them.

Computer Support In Canada

Since the dawn of computer support in Canada, we have gradually had a reputation for providing computer technicians that are good, safe and reliable. So when you need help with your computer, you can be sure to find the company that is able to fix your computer, no matter what the problem may be.

If you do a search on the internet, you will find a wealth of information about computer support in Canada. You may be interested in knowing more about the companies that offer computer support in Canada and you may also want to learn a little bit about their reputation and credentials.

For those who know nothing about computers, it is very easy to become confused about the difference between support and repair. Often, people who don’t know much about computers might assume that their computer will be fixed by someone who knows a lot about computers, but there are actually two different jobs that are often combined in a service contract: this means that a computer technician should know how to repair a computer if something goes wrong.

The truth is that there are many different things that can go wrong with a computer, including the fact that the computer has become corrupt, or it may be struggling to boot up.

This is why it is important to call in a technician from a company that offers computer support in Canada.

They will help you figure out how to make the computer boot up properly and will also do some troubleshooting to resolve the problems that may be present. Once they are done, they will be able to ensure that your computer is able to handle everyday use and will also be able to help you choose the best possible software for your computer.

Most computer support companies offer internet access so that they can offer computer support in Canada.

These companies will also have manuals and other support materials that will help you understand the software that they are using and ensure that you get the most appropriate software for your computer.

So, for your convenience, make sure to ask about computer support in Canada when you need computer assistance. Otherwise, you could end up waiting for hours on hold at the local telephone number and you will not have access to the internet while your computer is being fixed.

To save yourself from all this hassle, choose to do all your computer repairs in person rather than by phone or internet. You will be able to sit down with a computer technician to ensure that you receive the best possible service for your computer, something that you cannot always do over the phone.

Many people find it extremely annoying when they have to wait for someone to come and fix their computer because they can’t wait any longer. It is important to remember that by taking care of this problem before it becomes too much of a problem, you will be able to avoid it when you actually need it.

As much as you can, get online and read about computer support in Canada so that you can be fully prepared.